Showing 1-30 of 30 items found in Events

Take a great adventure every June through December! Board a trolley outside of the Great Hall area of the Lodge. Enjoy a historic trolley ride with stops at the Starved Rock State Park and Illinois Waterway Visitor Center where you will see Starved Rock from across the river and watch as the river traffic lock through the locks. You will also travel through the village of Utica and hear about the Illinois and Michigan Canal. While aboard, the driver will narrate the history and legends of the area. For tickets and information please call 815-220-7386.

Whether you are just beginning in photography, are an advanced amateur or a professional, you are welcome to the Starved Rock Photography Club. Monthly photography walks at Starved Rock State Park’s Lodge with club leader, Jacki Pienta. The Photography Club will meet each month throughout the year for guided walks to planned sites for photography opportunities. Members will informally exchange ideas and tips for quality nature and wildlife photos. We will meet the 4th Saturday of every month at 9am in the back of the Large Parking Lot at Starved Rock Lodge. All meetings will consist of a hike to an area of either Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park or Buffalo Rock. Please be prepared to carpool if necessary. $25.00 annual fee to join which will include a club t-shirt and an annual cookout! Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 4th Saturday of each month. For more information, call 815-220-7386.

There's no better way to relax on a Friday night than with great, live music in the Back Door Lounge. Talented local performers bring a variety of rock and country favorites (mixed with a few original songs) each week. Come early for dinner at Elements! Ask about the wide selection of seasonal beers, Starved Rock wines and specialty drinks. Or, warm up with a coffee drink after dinner. The Back Door Lounge is located just beyond Elements Restaurant. Enter the “Back Door” from the northeast side of the Veranda and don’t miss the amazing view outside the door! Perched on a bluff high above the scenic Illinois River Valley is this laid-back destination they call the "19th Canyon." Held every Friday, 8:00pm - 11:00pm.

Join the fun on our weekly, guided hikes! Explore Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, the I & M Canal and a nearby Nature Preserve. Every Thursday morning, year round, the Starved Rock Walkers Club meets in the lobby of the Lodge and departs at 9:00 am. Hikes last between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the destination. The hikes vary each week and over a 4-month period, the group will see the entire park. Make some new friends and learn about wildlife, wildflowers and more. This event is free and open to the public. Please note: We will not hike on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Every Thursday (year round).

Michael St. Angel takes the stage as “The King of Rock and Roll." You can rock to the hits that made Elvis famous such as Jailhouse Rock, Hounddog, Love Me Tender and many more. Keep the spirit of Rockin’ and Rollin’ alive! April 19/Evening; April 20 & 21/Matinees - Matinee shows include lunch and show at $32.00 a person. Evening shows include wine tasting, dinner and show at $37.00 per person. For more information or to book, call 815-220-7386.

The 4th Annual Starved Rock Country Marathon and Half Marathon is set to take place in May of 2017! Be one of the first people to run through and around Starved Rock Country. The course will encompass the scenery of the Illinois River and the rolling landscapes in and around Starved Rock State Park. Runners will experience a course that is not a flat fast course as other courses advertise, the course has characteristics that will inspire you with scenic beauty and experience the highs and lows of the hills created by the Illinois River thousands of years ago.

Let's rock on the river! LaSalle County’s largest festival, Ottawa’s Annual Riverfest, celebrates summer with a bang! Carnival rides, art shows, craft and flea markets, kids activities, sidewalk sales, music and the now famous Taste of Ottawa all come together at the fest. You are sure to find something for everyone! Visit their website for everything this fest has to offer.

Wine, food, lobster and the sweet sounds of jazz…all at the Ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Fest. Attend the festival and listen to the great music for free! You can also save money by pre-purchasing your wine tasting tickets and lobster by visiting Ottawa2RiversWineFest.com. We'll be featuring wine from over 15 Illinois vintners.

Come to Ottawa and check out the antique and custom cars during the city’s 17th Annual Cruise Night! Over 100 different models of cars will line the streets! It’s every car buff’s dream! LaSalle Street will be closed down for this event. Hosted by The LaSalle County Cruisers and the City of Ottawa.

Join in the fun of Christmas songs made famous across the decades. Michael Bruccoleri will make you smile with the likes of Elvis, Dean, as well as Sinatra. Mary Pfeifer brings you Karen Carpentar, Brenda Lee, a little Eartha Kitt and many more. Covering all of your Christmas favorites, their voices blend in beautiful harmonies as they sing pop, rock and soul.

Come on out and witness an exciting seminar about dog sledding and the Siberian Husky while enjoying exciting sled demos. There will be huskies for you to meet and greet as well as the Husky Boutique and information about the rescue. Admission is free and event is open to the public. Sled demo times are 9:30am,12pm, and 3pm and are located at the Southwest end of the Starved Rock State Park Visitor's Center Parking Lot. Seminar times are 10:30am and 1:30pm and will be in the LaSalle Room in Starved Rock Lodge.

2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Safe House Animal Rescue. Over 20,000+ Easter Eggs. A Visit with the Easter Bunny. All eggs filled with Candy, toys, with a possibility of larger prizes. Raffle Baskets, Baked Goods. Hunt free for all, age divided. Lunch will also be provided for small fee. Hunt starts at Noon, Pictures with the Easter Bunny and kids crafts starts at 11am, Face Painting, Games, Cake Hop, Bake Sale all start following the Egg Hunt games cost $1 a game.

This two day inaugural event is a new Chris Kringle market based on the christkindlmarket model. The market will feature authentic German christkindlmarket vendor huts. We have a full schedule of events, going on thru out the two days. Beautiful Ice Sculptures will be on display. Unique vendors, and of course Santa. All along the beautifully decorated Washington Square Park. Schedule of events include Ice sculpting demonstration (2:30 — 4:30 on Sat.), Holiday Farmers Market on Saturday (8am to 4pm) 807 Building. Special Christmas brunch at The Lone Buffalo (Sunday). Market hours are Saturday 10 am to 9 pm Sunday 11 am to 6 pm

One of central Illinois largest and most spectacular light shows! Our unique venue offers viewing from the high school bleachers all the way to the bluffs along the Illinois & Fox Rivers either on shore or in your boat. 9pm show time.

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their 52nd Annual Welcomeburger in Washington Square Park! This is the kick-off for the Riverfest! Everyone is welcome! Enjoy food, drink, and live music! The fee includes a picnic buffet, with drinks and admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Reddick Library, or any local bank. (All RiverFest Events subject to change.) View the website for more information.

Ottawa presents the 30th Annual Scarecrow Festival! Bring the kids for free buckboard rides, face painting and a petting zoo! While you're downtown check out the farmer's market as well as the shops, boutiques, and restaurants that will be offering special events inside their facilities! And don't forget what this fest is all about - scarecrows that will once again line the streets! 10:00am - 4:00 PM.

Art in the Park is a juried art show and sale with over 30 artists displaying pottery, paintings, drawings, metalworking, glass, woodworking, and jewelry. The art show is in Washington Square Park in downtown historic Ottawa, IL during Ottawa's Riverfest Celebration

The Weber House is decorated in a style reminiscent of a prosperous 18th century home. As was the custom, decorations are homemade from greens, pine cones, fruits, flowers and assorted sweets. The Christmas trees, although common today, are not historically accurate. They did not come on the scene until Queen Victoria. And then they were small table top trees. So come on in and see Christmas of long ago.

Ah, December. Barren trees. Desolate landscapes. Dark evenings and darker nights. What a perfect time to gather for a ghostly tale or two. Settle in for an evening of stories written by the masters of the macabre. Tricia Kelly will read aloud tales from gaslight authors like Bierce, Poe, Stevenson, James, etc. Each tale is long enough to let the creeps set in, but short enough to please the 21st century attention span. Cost per guest: $10. Save $1 if your purchase online by 12-7-16.

You are cordially invited to the Hegeler family’s annual Christmas party. Step back in time to 1887 and be whisked away by the staff as you peek into the family’s and guests’ party preparations. Then, experience the fun of the party with carols, stories, and more. Guests at this event will tour the Mansion and will be guided through a play by one of our maids, meeting the Hegeler family and friends as the story unfolds. Actors in period dress in each room will give you a glimpse into the holidays as celebrated during Victorian times. The halls are festively decorated for the occasion. This theatrical tour is different every year and features local stars from Stage 212, Engle Lane, IVCC, and local high schools. This event always sells out quickly and is a fun annual tradition.

Country music at its finest! Dave and Daphne, a Nashville duo, perform a high-energy show with classic country music roots! Dave is well known for his 10 years on the road as Barbara Mandrell’s lead guitarist. Daphne was Southern Gospel Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year, having spent many years with the Bill Gaither Southern Gospel Music Conventions. When she sings country music, she’s best described as a cross between Shania Twain and Patsy Cline. Together, they bring country legend favorites like Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline and so many more, to create an afternoon of Nashville fun.

Everybody loves somebody sometime… and you’ll love this Tribute to the Stars performance at Starved Rock Lodge. Capturing the spirit of Dean Martin, Peter Oprisko brings the King of Cool back to life, with his renditions of Dino’s signature songs, style and sense of humor. Sway to Blue Moon, Baby It’s Cold Outside and Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.

The synergy of Richard Gersten, Oscar Menoyo and Luis Galvez will amaze you as this trio of professionally-trained tenors presents diverse music encompassing Opera, Broadway and the standard Italian favorites infused with a touch of comedy. Shows take place on March 20, 21 & 22 at 11:30am

Mike Williamson and Patte Armato Lund perform songs written after 1950. There will be a One Hit Wonder medley that includes “The Purple People Eater,” “Itsy Bitsy Bikini,” “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” and more. The group’s “Duets Medley” will salute Sonny and Cher, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elton John and Kiki Dee. In honor of Tony Bennett’s birthday, they will be including a medley of his many hits.

Sit back and enjoy all that Las Vegas has (and had) to offer with “The Fabulous Vegas Guys!” From the Rat Pack and Elvis to Neil Diamond and everything in between! Mixing comedy, great music and dead-on impressions right before your eyes, you’ll never know what’s coming next. A truly must-see show!

Veteran Branson Entertainer’s Gordy and Debbie pay tribute to living legend George Strait. Hear his greatest hits along with fun facts, trivia about George and a dash of comedy sprinkled in. This husband and wife duo is a must see for all George Strait fans.

An experience like no other! Don’t miss this wildly entertaining music and comedy dueling piano show. Our interactive musical comedy experience will have you singing, shouting, dancing and laughing so hard you’ll be doubled over. Shows: February 20, February 21, April 23, April 24 and April 25 Shows take place on February 20 and 21 at 11:30am.

Coming to Starved Rock Lodge from her recent role as Patsy Cline in the highly successful Engle Lane Theater production of “Always Patsy Cline”, the talented Mary Pfeifer will perform Cline’s beautiful ballads and hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s, like Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight. Don’t miss this tribute to country music’s most beloved singer! Show dates: June 12, August 14, August 15, September 25 and October 16